January 4, 2023

The winners of the annual Making a Difference Awards will be announced and the awards will be presented at a reception from 2-3:30 p.m. today (Jan. 4) in the Memorial Union Ballroom. Everyone is invited.

A total of 43 nominations have been submitted and winners will be announced in seven categories:

Above and Beyond
Behind the Scenes
Legacy Award
Outstanding Leader
Rookie Award
Serving Others
Unsung Hero

Each award recipient will receive $500. A list of nominees is available on the Staff Council website.

Due to the generous support of the DeVlieg Foundation, the Graduate School is happy to accept nominations for 2023 summer fellowships.

All graduate programs may nominate one eligible Ph.D. student per program. The recipient will receive a stipend for summer 2023 plus tuition support (one credit or three research credits for Ph.D. candidates).

Eligible students will meet all of the following criteria:

• Must be a graduate student in the field supported by the DeVlieg Foundation:
  
  1. Wildlife/biology – ecosystem science
  2. Engineering
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Must be enrolled in a PhD program.
• Must be nominated by student’s graduate program (each Ph.D. program may nominate one student if the research conducted is related to the field(s) supported by the DeVlieg Foundation)
• Must not be supported by another funding mechanism while supported by the DeVlieg Foundation (part-time job, fellowship, GTA, GRA, etc.)

Nominations are due no later than 4 p.m. Feb. 1 to the Graduate School. Please submit as a PDF file sent to gradschool@mtu.edu.

Please see our webpage for details on the application procedure and materials needed. Each program may determine its own internal selection procedure.

Please contact the Graduate School at gradschool@mtu.edu with any questions.

There is still time to complete your full or refresher Diversity Literacy training. Please check your Diversity Training Status and plan to complete your refresher if your training expires this spring 2023 semester.

The Diversity Literacy Workshop is part of Michigan Tech's ongoing commitment to faculty diversity in building a supportive campus climate. Successful completion of the Diversity Literacy Workshop is required to serve on faculty hiring and tenure promotion committees. The full workshop is organized as a three-week asynchronous online course in Canvas (with two to three hours of work per week) building literacy in recognizing unconscious bias, and culminates with a one-week seminar on the legal aspects of diversity-centered hiring practices. For those who have already taken the full three-week diversity literacy course, a one-week refresher course is required every four years.

The spring 2023 workshop dates are listed below and can also be found on the training website, which is also where you can submit your request for workshop registration. Please note that Legal Aspect training will immediately follow the Diversity Literacy training, and faculty will be registered for them both at the same time.

If you have any questions about the Diversity Literacy workshop and training, contact Diversity Literacy Workshop Administrator Amy Marcarelli at ammarcar@mtu.edu.

Full course and refresher dates for spring 2023:

Diversity Literacy Spring Refresher 1:
Jan. 16-20 — Diversity Literacy Refresher Workshop
Jan. 23-27 — Legal Aspects of Hiring – online course

Diversity Literacy Spring Full Course:
Feb. 6-24 — Diversity Literacy Full Course
Feb. 27-March 3 — Legal Aspects of Hiring – online course

Diversity Literacy Spring Refresher 2:
March 20-24 — Diversity Literacy Refresher Workshop
March 27-31 — Legal Aspects of Hiring – online course

The Internal Revenue Service has announced an increase in the standard mile rate for 2023.

As of Jan. 1, the standard mileage rate for business travel is 65.5 cents per mile, up 3 cents from the midyear rate set on July 1, 2022.

The mileage rate for moving purposes remains at 22 cents per mile.

The deadline for employees to submit claims for their 2022 Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is March 31. Health care and dependent care claims during the 2022 calendar year are eligible if the date of service was in 2022. Any money remaining in the account after this date is forfeited per IRS regulations.

Dependent care claims require an invoice or receipt from the provider. All medical, dental and optical claims should be processed through your insurance plans before submitting them to your health care reimbursement account.

Attach the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) or a claim summary from your insurance plan to the claim form when submitting a claim. For expenses not processed through insurance, submit the itemized receipt.

More information and the FSA claim form can be found online on the Human Resources Flex Spending webpage.

For questions, contact Benefit Services at benefits@mtu.edu or call 7-2517.

Michigan Tech employees are invited to join the Benefits Office for these free, online, live financial health webinars offered through Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) this January:

• Basic Estate Planning Strategies — Jan. 10 at 3 p.m.
  Ensuring that our assets will pass to loved ones and causes that are near and dear are important to most of us. Discover the components of a basic estate plan and strategies to ensure that your wishes are met.
  Register now.
  
  
• Quarterly Economic and Market Update with TIAA’s Chief Investment Strategist — Jan. 11 at noon
  Take a closer look at our views on the financial markets, including key market drivers, the U.S. economy, policy and politics, and investing in public markets. We'll also cover the challenges that investors face and how to navigate them.
  Register now.
  
  
• Understanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) — Jan. 18 at noon
  You may know about the tax advantages of contributing to a Health Savings Account (HSA), but did you know that HSAs are also a way to save for health care in retirement? We'll help you understand unique aspects of HSAs.
  Register now.
  
  
• Basic Social Security Strategies — Jan. 18 at 3 p.m.
  Social Security will likely play a significant role in building your retirement income. Learn the basics about Social Security, including eligibility, how to apply, how your benefit is calculated and strategies for claiming benefits.
  Register now.
  
  
• Common Estate Planning Considerations — Jan. 19 at noon
  A common goal that we all share is providing for our loved ones or our favorite organizations. Come learn about the components of an effective estate plan and hear about strategies to ensure that your wishes are met.
  Register now.

These webinars count toward Option 2 in your Husky Health Checklist. Follow Michigan Tech Wellness on Facebook for upcoming health and wellness initiatives supported by the Benefits Office, which may count toward your 2023 Husky Health Checklist.

All webinars are recorded and available for viewing 90 days after the live event. Visit TIAA.org/webinars to register or watch past presentations on demand.

Spanish-Speaking Webinars
Starting in 2022, TIAA is offering financial education webinars in Spanish. The webinars can be accessed at TIAA.org/RecursosEducativos.

Michigan Tech hockey is ranked No. 16 in this week's DCU/USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls.

The Huskies are 12-6-3 overall and 7-4-3 in the CCHA, and wrap up nonconference play this weekend at the Desert Hockey Classic in Tempe, Arizona.

Tech has received votes every week in the polls, and the No. 16 ranking is the highest of this season.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech Nordic skier Skylar Patten had a spectacular fourth-place finish in the men's freestyle 10K interval start to highlight the first day of the 2023 U.S. Cross Country Ski Nationals presented by Hampton Inn & Suites at the Tech Trails on Monday (Jan. 2).

Monday also counted as a CCSA Invite, which ended with the Huskies rolling to another combined team win. The women swept the podium: Anabel Needham claimed gold, and Henriette Semb and Olivia Laven took silver and bronze.

On the men's side, Patten and Colin Freed went 1-2, and the men had seven in the top 10 following the two podium finishers.

"Today was one of the most special days in the history of the Michigan Tech Nordic ski team," head coach Tom Monahan Smith and assistant coach Kristen Monahan Smith said. "Skylar knows how to give his best races on the biggest stage and for him to have the best result of his career so far here at home, on the Michigan Tech trails, was incredibly special."

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Tim Colling (CEGE/CTT) is the principal investigator (PI) on a project that has received a $148,501 other sponsored activities contract from the Michigan Department of Transportation.

The project is titled "2023 Transportation Asset Management Council Technical Assistance Activities Program."

Chris Gilbertson (CEGE/CTT) is a co-PI on this project.

*****

Tim Colling (CEGE/CTT) is the PI on a project that has received a $187,294 other sponsored activities contract from the Michigan Department of Transportation.

The project is titled "2023 Transportation Asset Management Council Education Program."

Pete Torola and Chris Gilbertson (CEGE/CTT) are co-PIs on this potential one-year project.

*****

Tim Colling (CEGE/CTT) is the PI on a project that has received a $890,479 other sponsored activities contract from the Michigan Department of Transportation.

The project is titled "2023 Roadsoft Asset Management System Development & Support."

Nick Koszykowski and Luke Peterson (CEGE/CTT) are co-PIs on this potential one-year project.

Joel Isaacson (ATH) and Nordic skier Anabel Needham were quoted by WLUC TV6 in coverage of the U.S. Cross Country Ski National Championships at Michigan Tech.

In further coverage of the ongoing event:

Needham was mentioned by the Keweenaw Report, along with fellow Huskies Skylar Patten, Colin Freed, Tryg Solberg, Henry Snider, Henriette Semb and Olivia Laven.

BVM Sports picked up a Michigan Tech Athletics press release highlighting Patten’s fourth-place finish in the men's freestyle 10K interval start. 

Michigan Tech was mentioned by FasterSkier in coverage of the national championships. Former Husky skier Sarah Goble was quoted in the story.

DOE Scholars Program Essay Writing Support

The Graduate School is providing essay writing support for current and prospective graduate students who wish to apply for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Scholars Program.

Description:
The DOE Scholars Program is designed to attract talented undergraduate students, graduate students and recent graduates to research, technical and professional opportunities within the U.S. Department of Energy and organizations that support the DOE mission. Applications are accepted from candidates from a wide range of disciplines, including:

• Business
• Communications and Graphics Design
• Computer, Information and Data Sciences
• Earth and Geosciences
• Engineering
• Environmental and Marine Sciences
• Life Health and Medical Sciences
• Mathematics and Statistics
• Other Non-S&E (see solicitation for details)
• Other Physical Sciences (see solicitation for details)
• Other S&E-Related (see solicitation for details)
• Physics
• Social and Behavioral Sciences

As a participant in the DOE Scholars Program, you will have the opportunity to explore a federal career with DOE and gain a competitive edge as you apply your education, talent and skills in a variety of settings within the DOE complex.

Duration:
Most appointments for this solicitation will be for 10 weeks during the 2023 summer. However, longer-term appointments may also be offered depending on the availability of the participant and the hosting facility. Appointments can start at any time during the year at the discretion of the DOE sponsoring office. Appointment extensions may be granted based on the needs of the sponsoring office and the candidate's availability.

Benefits:
Participants will receive $750 per week plus a potential travel and training allowance.

Qualifications:
The DOE Scholars Program is open to all students and recent graduates who meet the following qualifications:

• Be a U.S. Citizen at the time of application.
• Be 18 years of age or older by desired start date.
• Meet one of the following conditions:
  • Be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at a U.S. accredited institute of higher education.
  • Have completed an undergraduate (B.A., B.S. or equivalent) or graduate (M.S., DVM, Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent) degree within five years of the desired start date.
  • Be a U.S. military veteran who has been honorably discharged and/or who has been medically discharged because of a service-connected disability and who received a college degree in an appropriate discipline within 10 years of the desired start date.
  • Those who have completed a qualifying certificate program within one year of the desired start date are also eligible for a postgraduate appointment. The qualifying certificate program must be offered by an accredited academic institution; must require a minimum of 30 semester credit hours or the equivalent; must be in an appropriate science, technology, engineering or math discipline; and should be related to or complement a prior degree earned (bachelor’s degree or higher).
• Must be pursuing a degree or have a degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) discipline or a field that supports the DOE operations mission, including but not limited to communications, management, business and law.

Application Deadline:
The application deadline is Jan. 23 at 8 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Visit the DOE Scholars Program website for additional information. Questions? Contact Sarah Isaacson at sisaacso@mtu.edu.

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2022 Making a Difference Staff Awards

Wednesday, January 4, 2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), Ballroom

2022 Making a Difference Staff Awards ceremony

US Cross Country Ski National Championships (Tech Trails)

January 4, all day

US Cross Country Ski National Championships (Tech Trails), Skate Sprint